Document-file



(No Model.)

W. I. OHMBR. DOCUMENT FILE.

Patented Apr. 15, 1890.

' WUNESSES,

J//JA TTORNEYL UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILFRED I. OHMER, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

DOCUMENT-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,825, dated April 15,1890.

Application filed August 19,1889. Serial No. 321,239. (No modell) To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, WILERED I. OHMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Document-Files, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improvement in files to be used more particularly for the preservation of documents.

The object is to produce a document-file which shall be of such construction that papers placed therein will be held firmly in place` against dropping out, while the mechanism for holding` the said papers will be easy of manipulation. The object is also to produce a document-nie which shall be simple of construction, efflcient and durable in use, and which may be constructed at but a slight eX- pense.

With these objects in view the invention consists, broadly, of a document-file having a pivoted leaf or surface adapted to bear against the contents of the file or locking mechanism carried by the said leaf and an arm pivoted to a xed portion of the le and adapted to be engaged by the said locking mechanism, whereby the said leaf may be moved to any desired position and securely locked therein.

The invention further consists in the improved construction and combination of parts of a document-ile, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, illustrated in the drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, I have illustrated one form of document-le with various modifications embodying the essential features of my invention, although the same may be carried into eect in .other ways without in the least departing from the spirit thereof.

In the drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of iny improved document-file, showing the pivoted leaf, the locking mechanism carried thereby, and an arm adapted to be engaged by thev said locking mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the arm provided with teeth and a pawl or locking lever carried by the leaf and adapted to engage the said teeth. Fig. 3 is also a longitudinal sectional view showing the leaf mounted adj ustably within the file. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the leaf mounted upon pintles which move in slots formed in the sides of the file and locking mechanism for holding it at any desired point. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a spring which may be substituted for pivoted leaves shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of another form of file in which the arm bears against the contents of the iile, the leaf being dispensed with; and Fig. 7 is an elevation of a iile adapted to be closed, so as to render the interior of the file dust-proof.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a le-box, which maybe made of any suitable material-such, for instance, as wood, metal, or gutta-percha; but for purposes of lightness and cheapness pasteboard is preferred. In conguration it is the same as those in ordinary use-that is, being higher in the rear than in the frontand as the reason for this construction is well known it is deemed unnecessary to discuss it herein. At a point, preferably, Where the front Band the bottom C are joined is hinged a leaf D, which leaf is adapted to move from the front t0 and y bear against the contents of the file. leaf may be also constructed of any material; but in this instance paste-board is preferred. Upon the said leaf is mounted a standard E, in which is pivoted a locking arm or lever carrying an eccentric F. The periphery of the eccentric is grooved, as shown at Gr, which grooved surface fits over and bears upon an arm H, the said arm being pivoted'to a fixed portion 0f thc file, preferably, in this instance, to the front and above the leaf.

Upon the rod I, on which the arm is mounted or pivoted, is coiled a spring J, the outer end of which is bent to form a toe K, which bears upon the arm II and tends to exert a downward pressure thereon. Thus, when the locking-arm is raised to throw the eccentric out of contact with the arm, the leaf may be drawn back to a vertical position, and by releasing the locking-arm, so as to allow the eccentric to engage the arm, the said leaf will This I IOO be held in that position; but as soon as the eccentric is raised the spring already referred to will exert a downward pressure upon the arm, thus throwing the leaf down and in contact with the papers in the tile. This spring performs a double function-that is, of causing the leaf to exert a constant pressure upon the papers and also of preventing their falling out should the position of the ile be reversed-that is, turned upside down. As shown, the end of the leaf bears upon the contents of the file., This will be found objectionable in some cases from the fact that the top of the papers will have a tendency to fall back or bend over when pressure is applied thereto. In order to obviate this difficulty, a plate or bearing-surface A is hinged to the outer end of the leaf. Being hinged or pivoted, as just stated, it will adjust itselfto the varying thicknesses of the contents of the file and will always exert avertical pressure thereon when the iile is nearly iilled or when there are only a few papers therein.

In Fig. 2 the same general construction is shown, with the exception that the spring is omitted, and the arm is provided with a series of teeth L, adapted to be engaged by a pawl M, formed' on a weighted lever N. In this case the leaf is caused to resume its position by gravity, and the pawl will automatically engage with the teeth on the arm and hold `the leaf in its closed position.

In Fig. 3 I have shown still another Way of carrying lny invention into effect. In this case the leaf O is provided with ears P, and the file with a series of openings Q. By this construction the leaf may be adjusted s0 as to exert a nearly vertical pressure upon the contents of the file. When the iile has been filledl to ywithin a short distance of the leaf, the pivot R, on which this leaf is mounted,

. is withdrawn, the leaf moved hack one opening, and the pivot reinserted. The contents of the file are thus held securely in place, and by the addition of an L-shaped spring S, secured to the front side of the file, the arm II vill be caused to bear constantly upon the caf.

In Fig. 4 the leaf T extends but a portion of the distance of the length of papers in the iile and is attached to a bar U, which moves in curved slots W, formed in the sides of the file. The leaf in this instance may be of any shape-for instance, an ornamental rosette.

At each side of the file is pivoted an arm X, and, if desired, a locking arm or lever may be secured at each side of the rosette or leaf T; but in this instance only one is shown. The method of securing the leaf at any point is the same as in the igures just describedthat is, by raising the locking-arm the leaf may be drawn out of contact with the papers, and by dropping thelockingarm the leaf is locked in place.

Instead of having a leaf, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and13, the spring Y, as shown in Fig. 5,

may be employed. This spring is formed with pintles Z, which are secured within openings formed in the side of the case, and a pin or rod is inserted through the openings Z', formed by wires crossing upon themselves. 0f course in this case there is a'constant pressure upon the contents of the iile, and when the paper is to be removed the spring has to be held back in contradistinction to the other forms of leaf, which are locked in place. If desired, however, this spring may be formed with three arms instead of two, as shown, the third arm being intermediate the other two and adapted to be engaged by locking mechanism, as in the figures before described.

In Fig. 6 I have shown still another way of holding the papers in the le. In this case the leaf is dispensed with, and the arm B', which is actuated by a spring C', bears directly on the papers. As shown, the end of the arm is not provided with aA bearing-surface; but, if desired, a plate similar to that shown in Fig. l maybe secured to the arm, or the end may be turned up to form a surface.

In Fig. 7 I have shown the :file provided with a covering which is adapted to be turned back, as shown in dotted lines, so as to admit of easy access to the interior of the file, but which when turned up, as shown, renders the file dust-proof. If desired, a lock may be provided for this form of file. Although I have shown several modifications of my improved document-file, I would have it distinctly understood that I do not limit myself to the constru ctions shown herein, as numerous forms embodying the same idea may be readily constructed. Neither do I confine myself to the idea of the rosette, as shown in Fig. 4, forv doing away with the leaf; but, if desired, a simple bar may be employed to bear upon the papers, the said bar moving in grooves formed in the sides of the case.

Having thus fully described my invention,l

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

TOO

IIO

1. A document-file having a surface adapted automatically to exert a constant pressure upon the contents of the file and mechanism for locking or vclamping the said surface at any desired point.

2. A document-file having a hinged or pivoted leaf, locking mechanism carried thereby, and an arm adapted to exert a pressure on the leaf and to be engaged by the locking mechanism. A

3. A document-file having a hinged or pivoted leaf, a plate or bearing-surface hinged thereto, the said plate or bearing-surface being adapted to exert a vertical pressure upon the contents of the file, and mechanism for exerting a constant pressure upon the leaf.

4. A document-1i1e having al hinged or pivoted leaf, locking mechanism carried by the said leaf, an arm pivoted to a fixed portion of the iile and adapted to be engaged by the said locking mechanism, and a spring mounted upon a pivot carrying the arm and having engagement therewith, the locking mechanism and leaf being inclosed within the walls of the file.

5. A document-file having a leaf or surface adapted to bear against lthe contents of the said iile, locking mechanism carried by the said leaf or surface, and an arm pivoted to a Xed portion of the file and adapted to be engaged by the said locking mechanism.

6. A documentile having a 'hinged or pivoted leaf or surface adapted to bear against the contents of the file, locking mechanismy 8. In a document-file, the combination of a hinged or pivoted leaf, an arm, and a lever mounted upon the leaf and carrying an eccentric adapted to engage the said arm, whereby the leaf may be moved to any desired position'and securely locked.

9. A document-le having an adjustablypivoted leaf, locking mechanism carried thereby, and an arm adapted to be engaged by the said mechanism to lock the leaf at any desired point.

10. A document-file having a hinged or pivoted leaf carrying a weighted locking arm or lever provided with an eccentric and an arm pivoted to a fixed portion of the le and adapted to be engaged by the said lockingarm.

'In testimony whereof l affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILFRED l. OHMER.

Witnesses:

R. M. ELLIOTT, E. J. FINKE. 

